Pros
Let me start by saying I am not a disgruntled ex-employee. Growth has its pains but this is not the case with AutoAlert. AutoAlert used to be a great company to work for. Company had good work culture. Strong team in California, Boston and field trainers. AlertMiner is a great software solution when used as intended. -AlertMiner = good software (for now) that has the potential to help increase customer retention and sales. This is for the AlertMiner software and NOT Pando-X or any of their other products. The other products don’t work. Intelligent Marketing no longer exists because the CEO closed the Boston office, who managed and operated it. -Irvine office: hard working and talented support teams, developers and middle management.
Cons
-Poor executive management with no direction from the CEO -Too top heavy (VP’s, Directors, etc) for a small-midsize company -Too many promises and no results. Clients complain that AutoAlert is not listening to them and are focused on up-selling them with more “solutions” that do not work -monthly magazine, sponsored race teams and full time social media director that provides no ROI -not truthful to dealership partners about company-wide layoffs (200+ people laid off to cut costs). Dealer partners are concerned. AutoAlert was a great company who helped their dealership partners through support, training and software solutions. The dealerships success was truly their priority. LAYOFFS: AutoAlert laid off 95% of their field and support teams as well as close the California and Boston offices. Laying off 200+ people is not a sign of growth or sustainability. Keep that in mind. Dealers are being told that “underperforming” employees were laid off but that’s untrue and honestly, insulting to the employees who’ve worked hard for this company and the dealership partners who know better. The CEO and upper management under performed. This is why they’ve had to cut so many jobs except theirs. The Irvine California office created, maintained and developed enhancements for AlertMiner, which is THE main product and what “pays the bills” for the company. Without AlertMiner, there would be no AutoAlert. The Boston office created and maintained the profitable marketing business (DirectAlert) for AutoAlert. Both entities were shut down which means the support and development for AlertMiner program and DirectAlert Marketing are gone as well. AutoAlerts business partners will now have little to no support. There will be no new products or enhancements in AlertMiner. Business partners will not receive the level of support, training and ROI they deserve and pay for. Kansas City does not have the resources or qualified teams to maintain these two critical services and products. Kansas City however, has Motofuze products...which has little to no value and does not “pay the bills”. Motofuze products neither worked as promised nor sells to dealership partners. From a financial perspective, they don’t look like they’ll be sustainable or be in business in the long run. The lay offs might only buy them so much time. For those interested in working at AutoAlert, please check back in 18 months or be willing to live in Kansas City to work at the only office that’s left. And for those in Kansas City that are interested, read the reviews from employees and former employees of the Kansas City office. For potential organizations interested in buying AutoAlert, this may be your chance to acquire the company at a bargain price.